AMES, Iowa, U.S.A. - Michele Bachmann won a test vote of Iowans on Saturday, a show of strength five months before the state's caucuses kick off the Republican presidential nominating season.
The result is the first indication of what Iowans think of the field of Republicans competing for the chance to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012. But it's hardly predictive of who will win the winter Iowa contest, much less the party nod or the White House.
The candidates on the ballot for the Republican straw poll in Iowa were, top row from left: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich; middle row from left: Jon Huntsman, Thaddeus McCotter and Ron Paul; bottom row from left: Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. (Associated Press)
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Rather, Saturday's outcome suggests that the Minnesota congresswoman has a certain level of support and, perhaps even more important, the strongest get-out-the-vote operation and widest volunteer base in a state whose caucuses require those elements. - Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished second to Bachmann, ahead of former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty.
- The results of the nonbinding vote, held on the Iowa State University campus, came just hours after Texas Gov. Rick Perry entered the race.
Bachmann stressed her Iowa roots — she was born in Waterloo — as well as her faith, opposition to abortion rights and opposition to gay marriage. She earned cheers when she declared: "We are going to make Barack Obama a one-term president."- Bachmann, riding high since entering the race earlier this summer, had hoped that a strong finish would give her even more momentum just as Perry looks to infringe on her base of tea party and evangelical support.
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he invoked God and faith as she stressed what she called her conservative values, saying: "In Iowa, we are social conservatives and we will never be ashamed of being social conservatives." - Perry and Sarah Palin(right photo), who made a splash Friday when she visited the state fair, weren't listed. But their backers planned write-in campaigns that could outpace candidates who have spent months trying to line up supporters to participate.
The straw poll isn't a scientific poll at all; it amounts to a popularity contest and a test of organizational strength. Poor showings usually force some candidates, mostly those who are not well-known and are struggling to raise money, to abandon their bids. That could happen this year, too. The straw poll has a mixed record of predicting the outcome of the precinct caucuses.
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